Police searching for family they believe trashed rented home, left Wisconsin

Submitted: 06/17/2014

Antigo - The Antigo Police Department wants to find a family they believe trashed a rented home and then left.

Police found bugs, trash, and human feces in the home. The home is so bad the Health Department had to make sure the landlord could do something with it.

Police believe the family left everything inside the home. They found piles of garbage, open food containers, and human and animal feces throughout the home. Now the landlord is stuck with the costs of clean up and repairs.
"There was a lot of fecal matter throughout the house, both animal and human. They're really going to have to gut the house of all the furniture, belongings, carpet, and then [they'll have to] clean," said Antigo Police Department Chief of Police Eric Roller.

Police believe the family left abruptly. They left their clothes and even children's toys behind. Police did have contact with the family in late May. They think the family moved out of the state within the last few weeks.

"We've had some contact with them about abatement issues and trying to get them to clean up. I'm not really sure how much contact the landlord had with the renters before that," said Chief Roller.

They believe the family trashed the house on purpose.

"To us it seems a bit above an beyond just a messy house and poor living conditions. It somewhat seems intentional that they're trying to get back at the landlord or just damaging for one reason or another," said Chief Roller.

The Langlade County District Attorney's Office could file charges against the family. The Police hope the family will come forward and help the landlord with the cost of repairing the home. If not, a warrant could be issued for their arrest.